Eastern Metals Ltd (ASX:EMS) has completed an initial reconnaissance visit ahead of the upcoming work programs planned by the company at the Neutral Junction Station-Barrow Creek area in the Northern Territory.
The purpose of this visit was to reconnoitre soil sampling traverses planned to test for lithium-bearing pegmatites and follow-up anomalous copper trends from the Home of Bullion mine into the tenement package acquired from Bowgan which includes the Mulbangas copper prospect on EL32027.
Notably, Eastern has collected copper-stained samples at surface at Mulbangas, which is 10 kilometres to the northwest of the Home of Bullion copper mine.
What’s more, the company has also identified pegmatites at Neutral Junction Station with mapping planned to identify other pegmatites in this area.
Moving forward, Eastern will kick off resource expansion drilling at the Home of Bullion mine upon receipt of sacred site clearance certificates (SSCC) and drilling rig availability.
“Upcoming soil sampling program”
Eastern managing director and CEO Wayne Rossiter said: “This reconnaissance visit was a key step in the logistical planning for the upcoming soil sampling program and the first time the company has had ‘boots on the ground’ in the Northern Territory.
“We were particularly pleased to find oxide copper mineralisation at the Mulbangas copper prospect along the known copper anomalous trend from the Home of Bullion mine.
“We were also pleased to have identified outcropping pegmatites in the region which will form the basis of planned pegmatite mapping and sampling activities.”
Home of Bullion mine
Eastern Metals’ flagship asset in the Northern Territory is the Home of Bullion mine at Barrow Creek on EL23186, which was acquired from Kidman Resources (now owned by Wesfarmers).
It hosts a total identified mineral resource of 2.5 million tonnes averaging 1.8% copper, 2.0% zinc, 36g/t silver, 1.2% lead and 0.14g/t gold.
The Home of Bullion mine is classified as an advanced exploration project under the Valmin Code. Prospect D, which hosts both high-grade copper and nickel intersected in drilling, is also located on the Barrow Creek tenement.
Eastern Metals’ Barrow Creek - Home of Bullion – Donkey Creek area.
Forward plan
Eastern’s strategy is to conduct resource expansion drilling on the Home of Bullion mine where the existing resource remains open along strike and dip.
In addition, several potential VMS and other targets exist along trend, principally to the west and northwest of the deposit.
This copper trend continues from the company's existing tenure into the Home of Bullion-Donkey Creek tenement package acquired from Bowgan, which includes the Mulbangas copper prospect.
Eastern Metals is actively reviewing historical exploration information over this area, which lies within the Barrow Creek pegmatite field and is also prospective for gold, silver, REEs and lithium.
Sacred site clearance by the Central Land Council (CLC) on EL23816 was completed in early April and the anthropologist report completed. Issuance of Sacred Site Clearance Certificates (SSCC) is expected in the near future.
The company’s mine management plan (MMP) for the Home of Bullion mine has been approved by the NT Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade and revised Environmental Bonds have been lodged.